New Sony tech scans your face and puts you inside PlayStation games, here is how to use it

Sony introduces The Playbase, allowing selected players to scan their likeness and appear in PlayStation games starting with Gran Turismo 7.

In Short

• Sony launches The Playerbase program for players to appear in games
• Selected players will be featured in Gran Turismo 7 character portraits
• Program includes studio scanning, custom logo design, and travel coverage

If you are a hardcore gamer and have at some point imagined entering the fantasy world of your favourite game to defeat the antagonist or guide others to execute your plan, Sony has something for you. The PlayStation maker is inviting players to scan their likeness and appear in PlayStation games. Sony is calling the program “The Playerbase”, starting it with the game Gran Turismo 7, and the company has promised that more games will be added later.

Selected players will have a special limited-time appearance as an in-game character portrait. The appearance will be similar to how characters are presented throughout the game. Selected players will also be invited to design a custom Fantasy Logo and a vehicle livery, which will be permanently added to the game’s Showcase menu.

Although the role does not involve payment, the selection process is similar to a job interview. To participate, players first need to share a memory explaining why PlayStation is important to them. After reviewing applications, PlayStation will invite a limited number of finalists to take part in video interviews, where the company will learn more about them and their connection to PlayStation.

Finally, one player will be invited to a visual arts studio in Los Angeles for a scanning day and will collaborate with a designer to create their Fantasy Logo and vehicle livery.

PlayStation has also promised to cover travel costs for the selected player and one companion, along with accommodation close to the studio. The program is currently available to players from select markets, including countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Australia.

PS6 launch timeline remains uncertain

Meanwhile, the opportunity to enter a game virtually has arrived even before the next generation of PlayStation consoles. There are reports suggesting that the next generation of the console, widely referred to as the PlayStation 6, could be delayed, with AI demand being cited as a reason.

As AI companies consume massive amounts of memory supply, consumer electronics makers, including Sony, are finding it increasingly difficult to secure key components without paying a premium. The console was previously expected to arrive in November 2027, but the timeline now appears uncertain.

For Sony, pushing ahead with a 2027 launch under these conditions could involve trade-offs. Pricing the console higher could hurt early sales and make it less accessible to a broader audience, while absorbing the added costs internally could put pressure on margins.

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